Doorlatch mechanism



Dec. 11, 1934. H. w. RlGHTMYER U 1,983,639

DOORLATCH MECHANISM Filed Aug. 2; 1955 Patented Dec. 11, 1934 PATENT OFFICE DOORLATCH MECHANISM Holden W. Rightn'iyer, Toledo, Ohio, assignor 0 The American SwissCompany, Toledo,jhio, a,

corporation of Ohio Application August 2, 1933, Serial No. 683,346

4 Claims.

This invention relates to door latches, but particularly to door latches for vehicles, such as automobiles, and an object is to provide a simple and efiicient door latch having the new and improved features of construction, arrangement and operation hereinafter described.

For purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a door latch;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a case plate made up of a back plate 10 and a cover plate 11, which fits over the back plate 10, and is securely fixed thereto as by rivets 12. The back plate is pressed outwardly to provide a recess 13 in which a latch bolt 14 is slidable, the nose of the bolt 14 extending outwardly from the edge of the case plate.

Formed in the rear end of the bolt 14 is a socket 15, in which is disposed a helical spring 16, one end of which bears against the inner end of the socket 15, and the opposite end bears against the rear wall of the back plate 10. A knob 17 is pressed out of the rear wall of the back plate 10 to provide a seat for the adjacent end of the spring 16 and retain the same in the proper position. It will be evident that the spring 16 tensions the latch bolt 14 and urges it to latching position.

An opening 18 is formed in the cover plate 11 and is disposed over the recess 13, and, although the opening 18 is wider than the recess 13, the front wall thereof overlies the recess, as will be noted particularly in Figure 2. Disposed in the opening 18 and secured to the upper surface of the bolt 14 by rivets 19 is a substantially U-shaped piece 20, the arms of which extend upwardly and forwardly from the riveted portion of the member. It will be observed that a raised portion 21 of the member 20 is disposed above the cover plate 11. In advance of the raised portion 21 is a raised portion 22, which is disposed above the portion 21, and intermediate the portions a shoulder 23 is provided against which roll back arms 24 abut respectively. It will be noted that the portions 22 of the member extend over the roll back arms, and thus serve to retain the arms in the desired position.

The roll back arms 24 project in opposite directions from a hub 25, which is fitted in an opening 26 formed in the cover plate 11. Provided in the hub portion 25 is a squared opening to receive the door handle spindle 26, on the outer end of which is fixed the usual operating handle (not shown).

In operation, it will be seen that in either direction in which the spindle 26 is turned the latch bolt 14 is retracted, one or the other of the arms bearing against the respective shoulder 23 and camming the bolt 14 rearwardly, thereby compressing the spring 16. Upon release of the spindle 26 the spring 16 returns the bolt to latching position. It should be noted that the shoulder-engaging portions of the arms 24 are inclined slightly, as also are the shoulders 23, thereby to facilitate the desired camming action necessary for the retraction of the bolt.

It should be noted that the spindle 26 terminates short of the bolt 14, and that the roll back and all retracting elements are disposed wholly on one side of the plane of the bolt, thereby providing an exceedingly compact, efiicient and inexpensive construction. Although this latch is particularly useful for deck lids of automobiles, it can be used on other doors of automobiles, or other vehicles.

Numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be eifected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a latch, a recessed back plate having an open front and a rear wall, a latch bolt slidable in the recess and through the open front thereof, said bolt having a socket in its rear end, a coil spring in the socket abutting the rear wall, a cover plate secured to: the back plate and overlying the recess thereof and having an opening which extends beyond the sides of the recess and having the wall defining the rear of the opening overlying the recess and the rear end of the coil spring, a member of U-shape having its bight rigidly secured to the bolt and received in the. opening of the cover plate and slidable on the back plate, the arms of said member extending outwardly beyond the cover plate and being offset outwardly between their ends to form shoulders, and a roll back journaled in the cover plate and having its arms underlying the offset portions of said member and engaged with said shoulders thereof.

2. In a latch, a recessed back plate having an open front, a spring pressed latch bolt slidable in the recess and through the open front thereof, a cover plate overlying the recess and secured to the back plate and having an opening which extends beyond the sides of the recess, a member of U-shape having its bight rigidly secured to the bolt and received in the opening of the cover plate and slidable on the back plate, the arms of said member extending outwardly beyond the cover plate and being ofiset outwardly between their ends to form shoulders, and a roll back journaled inthe cover plate andhaving its arms underlying the offset portions of said member and engaged with said shoulders thereof.

3. In a latch, a recessed back plate havingran open front, a spring pressed latch bolt slidable in the recess and through the open front thereof, a cover plate overlying the. recess and secured to the back plate and having an opening which extends beyond the sides of the recess, a roll back jounnaled in the cover plate and disposed wholly outwardly of the bolt, and a member secured to the bolt and received in the opening of the cover plate and slidable on the back plate and having a part disposed outwardly beyond the cover plate and engaging the roll back to retract the bolt.

4. In a latch, a back plate having a recess, a spring pressed latch bolt slidable inthe recess, a cover plate secured to the'back plate and having an opening, a roll back journaled in the cover plate and disposed wholly outwardly of the bolt and a member slidable in the opening of the .HOLDEN W. RIGHTMYER. 

